Process of lisleing and dyeing vegetable fabrics.



A. N. DUBOIS.

PROCESS OF LISLEING AND DYEING VEGETABLE FABRICS.

APPLIGATION FILED DBO. 2, 1909.

I 1,1 16,397. Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

N 2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

ALEXANDER N. DUBOIS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF LISLEING AND DYEING VEGETABLE FABRICS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER N. Donors, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania. with office and laboratory at 835 North Tenth street, Reading, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Lisleing and Dyeing Vegetable Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a process of lisleing and dyeing vegetable fabrics, particularly cotton goods in the piece, and knitted goods, such as underwear and waists, in the roll.

My invention depends upon my discovery that under certain conditions the treatment of vegetable-fiber fabrics with certain chemicals having the property of disorganizing cellulose fiber may be made use of to act upon and facilitate the removal of the filamental fiber projecting from the surface of the goods without injuriously affecting the body of the goods, and on the contrary with the effect of imparting to it a superior luster and finish, and bringing it to a condition which facilitates the operation and the eflect of dyeing.

My invention relates to improvements on the Process of giving lisle-thread finish to vegetable fabrics, patented to me March 17, 1903, No. 723,147, said process, however, being applicable only to hosiery and knitted garments and entirely impracticable of application to knitted goods in the roll, such as underwear, sweaters and waists, and woven cotton goods in the piece. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a process of imparting a. lislethread finish to such goods, and with this end in view, I employ specially designed machinery herein shown and described.

My invention also relates to an improved process or method of dyein vegetable fabrics, said process or method eing employed in and in conjunctionwith, the process of lisleing the goods, as well as constituting further steps in the process or method of treatment of the same, as hereinafter described.

Generally speaking, my recess or method of treatment consists in,. irst; boilin the goods in either plain water, or in alkaized water, according to the results desired, and

washing for the purpose of rendering the cotton absorbent to receive the chemical Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2, 1909.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 530,923.

compound with which it is subsequently treated. Second: extracting the liquid in the goods by means of a hydro-extractor, or a wringer. Third: saturating the goods with a chemical compound adapted to produce the finish desired, said chemical com pound having an acid-radical adapted to carbonize the superficial filamental fuzz, and subjecting to heat and attrition until the fuzz is removed and the surface finished. Fourth: washing the goods in a slightly alkaline water'whereby the acids left in the goods are neutralized. Fifth: as apart of the dyeing operation instead of the neutralizing treatment just mentioned, giving the goods a special chemical bath adapted to produce a coloration on the goods through the action of the chemical bath in conjunction with the acid left in the goods from the chemical lisleing compound, as hereinafter fully described. Sixth: subjecting the goods so treated to a bleaching bath which may be the ordinary chlorid of lime bleach, the chlorin bleach extracted from rock-salt by electrolysis, the bisulfite or sulfite of soda bleac with permanganate of. otash, the sodium peroxid bleach, or the hy rogen peroxid bleach. In any case, the original lislethread finish will be preserved and retained in all its beauty.

My process of treatment may take place as a part of the dyeing operation, if the goods are to be dyed, or preparatory to bleaching and dyeing, according to the results desired. There are certain advantages in both methods of treatment as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In actual practice I have applied my process as follows with great success: I first prepare the lisleing compound, this lisleing compound being prepared according to the work to be done, or the results desired. If for cotton cloth in the piece, or knit cotton goods in the roll, such as underwear, sweat ers and waists to be bleached or dyed after being given the lisle-thread finish, I make the lisleing compound as follows: For. a tub holdin 5,000 lbs. of water, I first take about %000 lbs. of cold water and add to it 25 lbs. of ordinary starch. This is stirred up well until the starch is thoroughly dissolved after which the steam ,valve is opened and the stirrin continued to prevent the formation of't e starch in lumps, and until the whole is near the boiling point; I then partially shutoff the steam and keep on boiling for about 5 minutes; at the end of this period, I shut ofi the steam entirely and add to the boiling starch solution either 150 lbs. of ordinary alum, (preferably in powdered form) or 112} lbs. of granular sulfate of aluminium, and keep stirring until all is well dissolved; I then add cold Water to make up the balance of the 5,000 lbs. weight of solution and cool down ta about 90 Fahrenheit; I then add from 62% lbs. to 1871} lbs. commercially pure hydrochloric acid, according to the alkalinity of the Water. For example,if the water on analysis gives .05 parts of permanent and .0l4eparts temporary hardness per 1,000,000 parts Water, 62:} lbs. of acid Will be proper. If, however, the water has given 0.25 parts temporary hardness the acid required will, be about 100 lbs., but if the test has given permanent hardness of 0.18 and 0.40. parts temporary hardness per 1,000,000, per Water, then in this case 187:}

lbs. of hydrochloric acid will be required to take up the excess of the alkali and permit the slight beginning of earbonization to take place in the goods necessary to produce the desired lisle-thread finish when the goods are subjected to heat and attrition.

If desired, the starch in the above described compound may be omitted and the final result will be the same but the process will be slower. After the goods have been boiled and washed and hydro-extracted as above described, they are then subjected to and saturated with a lisleing compound such as above described for a period. of from 15 to 20 minutes, after which they are passed through a hydro-extractor, or passed through a wringer, so as to retain from to' lbs. of the lisleing liquid or compound to 100 lbs. (dry weight) of the goods. The liquid that passes through the hydro-extractor is returned to the stock solution in the tub to be used over again.

'Referring to the drawings, Figure 1, is a side elevation of a machine which I have employed with great success in carrying out my process as applied to knit goods in the roll. Fig. 2, an endelevation of the same. Fig. 3, a top plan view of a machine for the treatmentof cotton goods in the piece. Fig.

' 1' a vertical longitudinal section of the same taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The machine shown in Figs. 1, and 2 comprises a horizontal reel 1, suitably mounted as by han ers 3, and, in the present instance, is'adapte to be driven by means of a gear wheel ,4, meshing with a second gear wheel 4, on a driving shaft 41.. w

A. receiving trough 5, preferably formed of galvanized wire of. 1 inch mesh, is movably mounted beneath the horiontal reel 1, and is divided into a suitable number of ptacles or pockets by means ef transor suspended in a drying room 2,

versely extending Wire partitions 6. Ten of these receptacles or pockets are preferably formed for the purpose hereinafter described. The receiving trough 5, is adapted to rest upon and be supported by a series of friction rollers 7, suitably mounted along the floor of the drying room and adapted to receive a longitudinally extending frictionstrip or plate 8, secured on the bottom of the receiving trough. The sides of the trough are provided with depending guidostrips 9, adapted to rest and slide within guide recesses 10, of a plurality of supporting standards or columns 11, arranged at either side of the receivingtrough.

As a means for reciprocating the receiving trough during the revolution of the reel, I provide one end of the driving-shaft 4, with a sprocket-wheel 12, carrying a sprocket chain 13, passing over a second sprocketwheel 14, of a longitudinally extending driving-shaft 15. The driving shaft 15, is provided at its opposite end with a pulley 16, carrying a belt 17, passing over a second pulley 18. The pulley 18, is provided with a crank-arm 19, connected to an upturned end 8*, of the friction-strip or plate 8.

i The knit goods are united or sewed together end to end into ropes 20, weighing from 100 to 125 lbs. each, and after being passed over and about the over-hanging reel 1, are united together at the ends to form endless ropes 20, so that in the revolution of the reel the goods will be allowed to accumulate as at 20, in the pockets or receptacles of the receiving trough 5, as shown.

When the endless ropes of goods are placed over the reel, the latter is put in motion by means of a friction-clutch 21, and the endless ropes are thus put into motion vertically bypassing over the reel and falling and accumulating into pockets or receptacles below. The air in the drying room is heated at the commencement of the operation by introducing steam into the steam pipes 22, for the purpose of drying the goods, the drying room being provided with suitable ventilators (not shown) to carry 0d the moisture andthe excess of acid gas as it developsfrom the heat in the heating reom.

When the goods are almost dry, which .will generally bethe case after a period of from 2-} to 3 hours with a temperature of from to 140 F. (this depending upon the kind and nature of the goods), the reciprocating trough 5, is put into motion by means of the frictiorrclutch 21, and the intermediate gearing whereby the crank-arm 19. will impart very quick and short reciprocating horizontal motions to the receiving trough 5, thus causingthe goods in each receptacle or pocket to be thoroughly agitated, and the attrition thus resulting, will, in the course of from 2 to 4: hours, cause the brittle superficial fuzz on the inside and outside surfaces of the goods to be rubbed off, the detached fuzz or lint falling through the meshes of the Wire body of the trough and on to the floor of the drying room, and producing on the goods it lisle-thread finish of characteristic smooth and glossy finish. A series of pins 23", carried by a longitudinally extending bar 24, in the drying room, are adapted to separate the ropes of goods while in motion when passing over the horizontal reel.

The heat, while the lisleing process is goingon, must be well regulated and the tem' nerature not over 120 F. during the initial operation. When the goods have been fairly well lisled, the temperature may be lowered to from 110 and 114, but the ventilators mustalways be kept fully open. For heavy goods the heat may be at from 120 to 124", but it is always wise to be careful until the alkalinity of the water used is well known, as the heat and amount of acid used must depend entirely upon this property of the water used.

W'hen the desired lisle-thread finish has been imparted to the goods, the heat is shut off and the room cooled down to from 90 to 100; the goods are then taken out and placed on trucks or in baskets, and they are thenready to be dyed any shade desired, or bleached as the case may be. In either case the luster of the lisle-thread finish will be permanently retained. When the goods are so lisled, it will be found that they will dye much better and of a brighter shade due to the lisleing compound acting on the goods as a mordant, and the colors will be more permanently retained than when not so treated.

It is obvious that cotton cloth in the piece cannot be treated in the machine, such as above described for the treatment ofknitted goods, and for this reason I have provided the machine illustrated in Figs. 3, and 4, of

the accom 'anying drawings. The machine is mounte in a drying room similar to the one above described for, the machine for the treatment. of knit goods, and comprises a pair of supporting standards 1, at either end, said pairs of standards being provided at their inner sides with a plurality of horizontallyextending rolls 2, provided at their ends with pinions 3, adapted to be dri en by vertically mounted worm-shafts t. The worm shafts 4, are mounted in suitable bearings 5, and are provided at their upper ends with bevel gears 6, meshing with driving gears 7, carried upon a horizontally extending driving-shaft 8. The driving-shaft 8, in the present instance, is supported at one end a bearing bracket 9, and at the other in hangers 10. The driving-shaft 8, is proyided with a friction-clutch 11, provided with a shifting-lever 12, whereby the clutch may be thrown into operative engagement with the previously treated as hereinbefore described 1 for the treatment of knit. goods, one end of the cloth is sewed to the end of a piece of calico already on the machine called the dresser; the machine is then put in motion through the friction-clutch 11, and the dresser carries the goods downwardly between the wringer-rolls 14, and over and about the rolls 2, in the form of endless belts 15, the intermediate portions of the belts 15, being in contact with each other and sup ported on the supporting plates 16. As the goods are carried over and between the rolls 2. and over the supporting plates 16, it is obvious that the intermediate or rubbing portions of the endless belt portions 15, of the cloth will be subjected to great attrition adapted to rub and break off the superficial fiber or fuzz, rendered brittle by the action of the chemicals in the lisleing compound, and a very superior lisle-thread finish of great luster and gloss is imparted to the goods.

It will be understood that in. starting the machine as above described that the end of the goods first sewed to one end of the dresser will be unsewed when the dresser has been run out of the machine at the top by the goods taking the place of the dresser and the adjacent ends of the goods are then sewed together to make an endless piece of the whole lot, and this endless piece is kept in the machine for a period of about 2 hours, the 'inachine being reversed at intervals of anghour or half hour whereby the goods will be caused to run in an opposite direction, thus greatly facilitating the lisleing operation.

lVhen the desired finish has been imparted to the goods, I open the two sewed ends of the goods and sew to one end of the dresser produced on the 00 s, I add to the solution a little iron sul ate in the proportion of sca d-ari dill, m

from 5 to 1% of the Weight of the compound.

After the goods have been given the desired preliminary finish, I wash the same in water .to which has been added from 1 to 2% of sumac or of tannic or of gallic acids; this causes the formation of a light gray iron tannate which is a fast color.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is,

1. The process of giving lisle-threadfinish to vegetable fabrics, consisting in (1) boiling the goods sufficiently long to render the same absorbent, (2) hydroextracting, (3) placing in a carbonizing solution from 15 to 20 minutes, 4) hydro-extracting so as to retain carbonizing liquor equal to 50 to 60% of the dry Weight of the goods, (5) and finally subjecting to heat and attrition until the filamental fuzz is removed and a lislethread finish imparted to the goods.

2. The process of giving lisle-thread finish to vegetable fabrics, consisting in (1) boilingthe goods to render the same absorbent, (2) washing and hydro-extracting, (3) saturating with a carbonizing solution containing alum, starch, and hydrochloric acid (4) hydro-extracting the surplus liquor (5) and finally subjecting to heat and attrition until a lisle thread finish is imparted to the goods.

3. The rocess of giving lisle-thread finish to vegeta le fabrics, consisting in (1) boiling the goods, (2) hydro-extractlng, (3) saturating in a carbonizing solution containing alum, starch, hydrochloric acid and iron sulfate (4) hydro-extracting, leaving carbonizing solution equal to from 50 to 60% of the dry weight of the goods, "(5) and finally subjecting to heat and attrition until the desired lisle-thread finish has been imparted to the oods.

4. T e process of lisleing and dyeing vegetable fabrics, consisting in 1) boiling and washing to render the same absorbent, (2) hydro-extracting, (3) impregnating the fabric With a chemical solution containing an acid radical adapted to carbonize the superficial filamental fuzz when subjected toheat and a metallic mordant adapted to the color desired, (4) hydro-extracting, leaving solution therein equal to from 50 to of the dry Weight of the goods, (5) subjecting to heat and attrition at a temperature of from 110 to 120 F. until the superficial filamental fuzzhas been removed and-the surface finished, (6) subjecting to a neutralising reacting and fixing solution, and (7) hydroextracting.

amass? 5. The process of lisleing and dyeing vegetable fabrics, consisting in (1) boiling and washing, (2) hydro extracting (3) saturating with a carbonizing solution containing alum, starch and hydrochloric acid, (4) hydro-extracting a portion of said liquor, (5) subjecting to heat and attrition at a temperature of from 110 to 120 F. for from tWo to three hours until the desired lislethread finish has been obtained, (6) subject ing to a neutralizing dyeing and fixing solution, (7) washin ',-(8) hydro-extracting and rics, consisting in (1) boiling in an alkali bath and washing whereby the same are rendered chemically absorbent, (2) hydro-extracting, (3) saturating with a chemical solution containing an acld radical and a mordant adapted, respectively, to carbonize the superficial filamental fuzz and impart the color desired when subjected to the action of the dyeing agent, (4) hydro-extracting, (5) subjecting to heat and attrition, and (6) subjecting to a solution containing a neutralizing reacting and dyeing agent.

8. The process of treating vegetable fabrics, consisting in (1) boiling and washing to render the same absorbent, (2) hydro-extracting, (3) saturating with a solution containing a metallic mordant adapted to impart the color desired and an acid radical adapted when subjected to the neutralizing dyeing and fixing solution to'carbonize the fuzz when exposed to heat, (4) hydro-extracting so as to retain solution equal to from 50% to 60% of the dry Weight of the goods, 5) subjecting to heat and attrition at 110 to 120 F., (6) subjecting to a neutralizing dyeing and fixing solution, (7) washing, and (8) hydro-extracting and dry- 1n Tn testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

ALEXANDER N. DUBOIS. Witnesses:

lKUNo B. SoHoTTE, JOHN T. DAvIs. 

